Characteristics of teachers who consult for vocal complaint at IST Viña del Mar between 2012 and 2017 Características de profesores que consultan por queja vocal en IST Viña del Mar entre los años 2012 y 2017

Abstract

Introduction: being a teacher presents a risk for the development of vocal pathologies, considered occupational diseases. In Viña del Mar, the Work Safety Institute (known by the acronym IST) is a reference center for medical care for occupational diseases. The objective of this study is to establish the incidence and prevalence of teachers from Viña del Mar, Chile, who attended the IST with vocal complaints between 2012 and 2017.

Methods: a quantitative, retrospective, descriptive, correlational and non-experimental design approach was adopted. The sample was made up of 186 teachers who presented vocal complaints related to their job performance.

Results: 167 female and 19 male teachers consulted with vocal problems; 64.5% teachers of the sample worked in primary school while there were no reports of university professors who accessed the IST with vocal problems. The most recurrent diagnosis was organic-functional dysphonia (75.8%), of which 69.5% was referred to vocal therapy at the IST. 14.1% Of the teachers were diagnosed with functional dysphonia, (and were also sent to vocal therapy). However, 9.4% of the cases did not meet the characteristics of being exclusively work related, for this reason they did not receive vocal therapy at the IST.

Conclusion: Chilean teachers from V Region have a low level of consultation for vocal pathologies. Primary school teachers are the ones who seek most professional therapy for their voice and the greatest number of conditions are related to poor knowledge about voice techniques and/or vocal habits. A greater investment in promotion and vocal prevention is necessary for this professional group.